PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Henrik Luhtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mercutio Benvolio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mercutio Benvolio has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Henrik Luhtanen's chin.

Luhtanen
vs
Benvolio

181 cm
26
180 lbs
11 - 7 - 1

194 cm
24
183 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Henrik Luhtanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mercutio Benvolio!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luhtanen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A slow jab from Luhtanen misses its intended target.
Luhtanen misses with a double jab.
Benvolio bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Benvolio looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Luhtanen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Benvolio tries to score with a low kick but Luhtanen moves his leg out of the way.
Luhtanen tries to bum rush Benvolio with a series of wild strikes but Benvolio uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Benvolio swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Benvolio scores with a push kick.
Benvolio uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Luhtanen.
Benvolio pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Luhtanen swings for the body but Benvolio moves out of range.
Henrik Luhtanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circling - Luhtanen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Luhtanen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Benvolio throws out the jab.
Luhtanen misses with a body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Benvolio with a jab.
Benvolio slips under a jab from Luhtanen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick from Benvolio lands but Luhtanen takes it in his stride.

It looks like Henrik Luhtanen has been cut.
A jab from Benvolio does it's job there.
Benvolio ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Luhtanen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Benvolio ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Luhtanen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Benvolio sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Luhtanen missing with a left hand there. Benvolio was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Luhtanen swings for the body but Benvolio moves out of range.
Luhtanen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Luhtanen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Benvolio counters with a good low kick that Luhtanen was not able to check.
Benvolio misses with a low kick.
Luhtanen cracks Benvolio with an open hand slap.
Benvolio scores with a leg kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Some wild striking there from Luhtanen.
Benvolio uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Luhtanen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benvolio scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Luhtanen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Benvolio.
Luhtanen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Benvolio jabs Luhtanen right on the nose. Luhtanen blinks but takes it well.
Benvolio fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Luhtanen looks to land a combination but Benvolio avoids it well.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Benvolio.
Luhtanen thows a body shot but no joy.
Luhtanen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Benvolio manages to avoid it.
Benvolio misses with a leg kick.
Benvolio showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Luhtanen.
Luhtanen misses with a straight left.
Luhtanen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luhtanen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Benvolio.
Luhtanen takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Luhtanen throws a lazy uppercut
and Benvolio counters with a stiff right hand.
That kick from Benvolio tenderised Luhtanen's leg. Luhtanen is trying to keep his angry face on.
Benvolio bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A punch combination from Benvolio misses.
Luhtanen is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Benvolio's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Luhtanen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Luhtanen missing with a left hand there. Benvolio was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Luhtanen misses with a body shot.
Luhtanen goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Mercutio Benvolio has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benvolio throws a head kick that misses.
Luhtanen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Luhtanen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Benvolio lunges at Luhtanen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Luhtanen's hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luhtanen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A swing and a miss from Luhtanen.
Benvolio paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Luhtanen just misses with a punch to the body.
Benvolio dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Benvolio connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Benvolio moves out of range of the strikes.
Luhtanen misses the shot to the body.
Luhtanen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Luhtanen tests Benvolio's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Benvolio throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Benvolio throws a push kick but Luhtanen slaps the foot to one side.
No joy there for Benvolio, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mercutio Benvolio dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Benvolio throws a head kick that half lands.
Luhtanen falls off balance throwing a combination
and Benvolio counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Benvolio connects with a high kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Benvolio!
Benvolio is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Luhtanen cracks Benvolio with an open hand slap.
Luhtanen misses with an uppercut
and Benvolio counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Benvolio ducks under a wild hook from Luhtanen.
Benvolio has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Benvolio swings for the body but Luhtanen moves out of range.
Luhtanen works Benvolio's body with a nice hook.
Benvolio scores with a crisp jab that stopped Luhtanen in his tracks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Luhtanen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Luhtanen throws a body punch but Benvolio moves out of range.
Luhtanen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Benvolio takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benvolio showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Luhtanen.
Luhtanen misses with a left hand
and Benvolio counters with an inside leg kick.
Luhtanen checks a leg kick nicely.
Benvolio ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Luhtanen scores with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Luhtanen. Benvolio does a little dance to reset his feet.
Luhtanen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Benvolio.
Benvolio walks into a left hand.
Luhtanen misses with an uppercut.
Luhtanen throws a right hand that Benvolio ducks under and follows up with a left that Benvolio also avoids with ease.
Luhtanen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Benvolio. Benvolio circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
An inside leg kick lands from Benvolio.
Benvolio ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Benvolio misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luhtanen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Benvolio cracks Luhtanen with a right hand to the side of the head.
Benvolio has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Luhtanen misses with a looping right.
Benvolio scoring well with a low kick there.
Benvolio avoids the body shot from Luhtanen.
Benvolio with a nice cross.
Luhtanen misses with a hook. Benvolio ducked under it nicely.
Luhtanen swings for the body but Benvolio moves out of range.
Luhtanen misses with a looping left.
Luhtanen throws the left hand but Benvolio avoids the punch easily.
Benvolio tries to land a front kick but Luhtanen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Luhtanen misses with a straight right.
Henrik Luhtanen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Luhtanen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Benvolio counters with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benvolio keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A jab from Luhtanen misses.
Luhtanen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Benvolio backs up against the cage.
Luhtanen sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Luhtanen looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Luhtanen takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Benvolio avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Luhtanen misses with a double jab.
Luhtanen loads up on a big right hand but Benvolio slips the punch.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Benvolio, right into the meat.
Benvolio slips a straight right by Luhtanen.
Nice defenses there by Benvolio.
Benvolio tries a head kick but it misses.
Luhtanen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Benvolio, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A decent looking cross lands there for Benvolio.
Benvolio lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Luhtanen circles away quickly and effectively.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
A slow jab from Luhtanen misses its intended target.
Luhtanen misses with a looping right.
Benvolio bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Luhtanen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A big right from Luhtanen misses.
Luhtanen bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Benvolio's head backwards.
Luhtanen connects with a single shot there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Luhtanen moves out of range as Benvolio throws a body kick.
A cross from Luhtanen lands.
Luhtanen lands an overhand right.
Benvolio throws a jab when Luhtanen was well out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Henrik Luhtanen will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Luhtanen loads up on a big right hand but Benvolio slips the punch.
Luhtanen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Benvolio momentarily.
Luhtanen has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Luhtanen throws a lazy uppercut
and Benvolio counters with a nice body shot.
Benvolio fails to land with a series of punches.
Luhtanen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Luhtanen thows a body shot but no joy.
Luhtanen misses with a straight right.
Benvolio keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Benvolio misses with a looping left.
Luhtanen misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Benvolio counters with a nice uppercut.
Luhtanen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Benvolio misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick by Benvolio misses
and Luhtanen counters with a straight right hand.
Benvolio slips under a jab.
Benvolio staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benvolio throws a nice looking combination but Luhtanen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Luhtanen throws a hook but Benvolio blocks it.
Luhtanen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Benvolio.
Luhtanen throws a poor cross that misses
and Benvolio counters with a solid body kick.
Luhtanen misses the jab.
Benvolio ducks under a wild hook from Luhtanen.
Luhtanen jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Luhtanen throws a shot from downtown. Benvolio moves away and avoids it.
Some bone on bone action there as Luhtanen checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Benvolio takes one on the button.
Benvolio defending well as Luhtanen loads up on a big left hand.
Luhtanen lands a nice shot to the body.
Benvolio closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benvolio looks to land a left hand but Luhtanen moved out of range nicely.
Benvolio scoring well with a low kick there.
Luhtanen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Benvolio at a distance.
Benvolio takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Luhtanen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nice jab there from Benvolio.
Benvolio takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benvolio pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Luhtanen scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Luhtanen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Benvolio.
Benvolio uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Luhtanen.
Nice defenses there by Benvolio.
Luhtanen just misses with a punch to the body.
Benvolio throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Luhtanen misses with a hook. Benvolio ducked under it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Luhtanen does no damage.
Luhtanen misses with a straight left.
Luhtanen misses with a right hand
and Benvolio counters with an inside leg kick.
Luhtanen connects with a crisp jab.
Benvolio avoids a punch combination nicely.
Luhtanen throws a nice looking combination but Benvolio bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Benvolio looks to land a body kick but Luhtanen moved away.
Luhtanen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Benvolio sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Luhtanen lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Luhtanen throws a lazy uppercut
and Benvolio counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Benvolio misses with a body kick.
Benvolio connects with an inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Luhtanen.
Luhtanen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Benvolio counters with a thumping low kick.
Luhtanen throws an off balance right hand
and Benvolio counters with a leg kick.
Luhtanen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Benvolio.
Luhtanen misses with a straight right.
Benvolio takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Luhtanen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Left hook, right uppercut from Benvolio.
A punch combination from Luhtanen misses.
A punch combination from Luhtanen misses.
Benvolio connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Luhtanen looks to throw the jab but Benvolio is out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Benvolio. Luhtanen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Luhtanen is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Benvolio throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Henrik Luhtanen.
I think Luhtanen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henrik Luhtanen!